Chombo's offensive against Bulawayo council condemned

MDC and Mthwakazi Youth Leaders Joint Resolution have criticised Local Government Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo for trying to coerce the Bulawayo City Council to appoint Fidelis Fengu as a special interest councillor representing disabled people.

Chombo has threatened to fire top council management officials including the town clerk for defying his directive.

However, MDC Bulawayo provincial spokesperson Edwin Ndlovu said Chombo is abusing his power saying the matter is before the court.

He said: “Minister Chombo is behaving like a chief executive officer for the city council. We dont expect him to be doing that, in fact he should stop destabilising the local authority.”

Ndlovu urged residents of Bulawayo to write a petition to Chombo ordering him to stop victimising the local authority.

He said as a party they view Chombo’s directive as a political stance meant to destabilise local authorities ahead of elections.

Ndlovu said it is unfortunate that the Minister is forcing the city council to accede to his order when there is a court order barring him from doing so.

Spokesperson of the resolution Mqondisi Moyo said the only way of stopping Chombo from abusing his authority is through devolution of power. He said people from Matabeleland region should insist on devolution of power in the new constitution.

“Devolution is the only answer to all this confusion. As long as the central government has direct control on local authorities, the minister responsible will always create problems for local authorities,” said Moyo.